Bag, satchel, and similar receptacle.



M. J. H. CUNNINGHAM. BAG, SATGHEL, AND SIMILAR REGEPTAGLE. APPLICATIONFILED mum, 1909.

1,060,824, I Patented May 6, 1913,

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UNITED STATES MICHAEL JOSEPH H. CUNNINGHAM, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS.

BAG, SA'I'OI-IEL, AND SIMILAR RECEPTACLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 6, 1909.

Patented May 6, 1913.

Serial No. 481,836.

To all whom it may concern of Essex, in the State of Massachusetts, haveinvented certain Improvements in Bags, Satchels, and SimilarReceptacles, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the,construction of bags, Satchels and similarreceptacles having a variable carrying capacity which can be enlarged orreduced in size and shall be cheap and simple to manufacture.

My invention therefore resides in the construction necessary totelescope a bag, and means for looking it in position.

In carrying out my invention, 1 provide an internal structure forholding the flexible body of the bag distended, and in order to permitthe bag to be enlarged or retracted to maximum or minimum size, thisinternal structure is made of two sections, one section being in theform of a frame or box of fixed dimensions arranged in the bottom of thebag, and the other of variable dimensions or expandible and contractibleso that it can slip into or around the box section in telescopingrelation thereto. The advantage in having the upper contractible andexpansible section of variable dimensions is that when the bag is openedto its full extent, the walls of the bag will be perfectly fiat so as tohave the appearance somewhat of a suit case and yet the bag will be heldrigidly dist-ended. I

Figure 1 represents a side elevation of my bag partially broken away,showing the construction in a telescoped position. Fig. 2 is a sideelevation of the same partially broken away. Fig. 3 illustrates theextended position of the bag. Fig. t is an alternative.

construction showing the top portion of the bag, telescoping outside thelower portion in contradistinct-ion to the construction shown in Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings in detail; 1 represents a bag or satchel madeof any flexible material, preferably of soft leather, having a frame 2and 3, secured thereto, which can be opened or closed in relation toeach other and serve as a suitable access to the bag, 1. Secured to theframe 2 is a suitable carrying handle 4, of well known construction. Theleather or flexible material is carried under the bottom, 5, of the bag,1, and is adapted to receive a box, 6, having U-shaped ends. The box, 6,is rigidly secured to the bag, 1, by any suitable means.

Secured to the bag, 1, is a movable frame,

7, consisting of vertical arms 8 and 9, to which are secured fourU-shaped strips, 10, 11, 12, and 13 connected together by means of crosslevers 14, 15, 16 and 17, these levers are pivotally secured together asshown at 18 and 19. The other extremities of the said levers are alsopivoted to the U-shaped strips as shown at 21 and 22. By thisconstruct-ion, a flexibility is given to the frame 7, which facilitatesin operation. When the bag is in an extended position as shown in Fig.3, the frame 7 is identical in shape to the box 6 hereinbeforementioned, permitting straight contour of the said bag. The U-shapedstrips are constantly forced outward by means of springs 25 and 26, thesprings also tend to force the telescoped portions together, partiallyretaining them in position, as shown in Fig. 1. The frame 7 also caresfor the loose ortion when the bag is in a telescoped position. The upperportion 27 and 28 of the vertical arms 8 and 9 extend upwardly and areadapted to receive the latches 29 and 30 respectively and are rigidlysecured thereto by means of rivets. The latches 29 and 30 cooperate withthe catches 31 and 32 which are rigidly secured to the box 6 by anysuitable means, preferably rivets.

The frame 7 is suitably secured to the bag 1 by means of the rivetswhich hold the latches 29 and 30 in position, and also at the upperU-shaped strips 10 and 12; by so doing the lower strips 11 and 13 arefree from the bag allowing the loose flexible material to adjust itselfto conditions when the bag is in a telescoped position as shown in Figs.1 and 2.

A suitable lining is provided and is indicated by dotted lines in Fig.3.

My alternative construction shown in Fig. 4 consists in the upperportion of the bag telescoping outside the lower portion by means of thesame mechanism described above, it is held in position by means of asuitable catch and latch 40 and 41 respectively. In Fig. 4 the catch andlatch extend below the bottom of the bag, which would hinder the bagfrom resting on a flat surface and to obviate this I have providedspecially constructed feet 42 which extend below the catch and latch 40and 41 respectively, thereby eliminating any adverse results from thesame. a

In operation the bag is held in a telescoped position by means of thecatches and latches 29, 30, 31 and 32 respectively. The frame 7 assistsin the same by means of the friction caused by the spring 25 and 26forcing it against the flexible material and box 6. When the operatorwishes to extend the bag the latches 29 and 30 are released from thecatches 31 and 32, at this point the bag is pulled out the full lengthand is retained in a straight line in relation to the box 6, by means ofthe frame 7. To reset the bag the operator takes hold of the bag in thelocation of the frame 7 forcing it inwardly against the springs 25 and26, any downward movement of the frame 7 with the bag attached thereto,will cause it to be forced into the box or frame 6, carrying with it theloose leather or flexible material, until it is in the location when thelatches 29 and 30 ride down the inclined surface of the catches 31 and32 and snap into position, thereby causing the upper and lower portionsof the bag to be securely locked together reducing the same.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, I havedescribed the principles of operation of my invention together with theapparatus which I now consider to be the best embodiment thereof; and Iwant to have it understood that the apparatus shown is only illustrativeand that my invention can be carried out by other means.

Having thus described the principles of my invention, what I claim asnew and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. The combination of aflexible bag, with a pair of devices secured respectively to the upperand lower portions of the bag for holding the walls thereof distendedand capable of telescoping movement, one of the devices being of fixeddimensions and the other of variable dimensions to permit of thetelescoping of the devices.

2 The combination of a bag capable of being increased or reduced insize, with an internal structure for holding the walls of the bagdistended, said structure consisting of a box secured in the bottom ofthe bag, and a frame arranged in the upper portion of the bag andcapable of expanding and contracting both longitudinally andtransversely to permit of telescoping of the frame and box.

3. The combination of a bag, a box arranged in the bottom of the bag andhaving an open top, a frame disposed in the bag above the box tocooperate with the latter for holding the walls of the bag distended andeach wall flat, said frame being contractible and expandible in ahorizontal plane to permit the box and frame to telescope, and meansexterior to the bag andv fastened thereon for holding the frame and boxin telescoping relation.

4. The combination of a bag, with upper and lower frames securedrespectively to the upper and lower portions of the bag and arranged totelescope, one frame consisting of oppositely-disposed U-shaped membersand yielding means operatively connected with both members forpermitting them to move toward or away from each other for changing thehorizontal dimensions of such frame to permit the frames to telescope.

The combination of a bag, with tele scoping frames mounted within thebag and forming supports for the walls thereof to prevent inwardcollapsing, one frame being expandible and contractible and consistingof sets of oppositely-disposed bowed members, means connecting andholding the members of each set in spaced relation, and means forconnecting the inner ends of the members of one set with the members ofthe opposite set for permitting the frame to expand or contract.

6. The combination of a bag, with telescoping frames mounted therein forholding the walls of the bag distended, one frame being of fixeddimensions and the other being of variable dimensions, said other frameconsisting of sets of oppositely-dlsposed horizontal U-shaped members,crossed links pivotally connecting the members of one set with those ofthe other, and means operating on the links to yieldingly force the setsof members apart and hold the frame expanded.

7. The combination of a bag, with separate frames arranged therein forholding the walls of the bag distended, one frame comprising twooppositely-disposed U- shaped sections capable of yielding to permit thebag to expand and contract transversely, and yielding means disposed between the. sections to permit the bagto be contracted longitudinally,said means tending to hold the bag expanded longitudinally.

8. The combination of a bag capable of bag for imparting permanentrigidity to the walls thereof adjacent the bottom, and

means telescopically related to the firstoutward movement to vary inhorizontal dimentioned means and attached to the upper mensions fortelescoping with respect to the portion of the bag to prevent collapsingof first-mentioned means.

the portions of the Walls adjacent the top M. JOSEPH H. CUNNINGHAM. ofthe bag, said last-mentioned means con- Witnesses:

sisting of oppositely disposed frames oper- JOHN A. MoMANUs, Jr.,

atively connected together for inward and CHARLES A. BARNARD.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0.

